World Ref Chief backs Tanzania’s Taekwondo future
COAST REGION: CHAIRMAN of the Referees Committee at the World Taekwondo Federation, Jun Cheol Yoon has expressed strong optimism about Tanzania’s potential to shine on the international stage if the country channels more energy into developing youth teams.
Yoon is in Tanzania leading an intensive two-week international Taekwondo coaching course, taking place until September 26, 2025, at the Olympafrica Centre, located within Filbert Bayi School in Kibaha district of Coast region.
Speaking during the opening ceremony of the course, Yoon underscored the pivotal role of youth development in sports, citing the values that underpin Taekwondo as a pathway to excellence.
“Youth teams are the true foundation of any successful sport. Taekwondo teaches perseverance and teamwork. If you embrace that philosophy, you can reach the highest levels. Success comes from the skills you master, the discipline you uphold and your willingness to endure,” said Yoon.
He added that while the course covers both theory and practical lessons, true resilience is built through physical and mental conditioning: “Training is tough. Beyond classroom learning, you need physical grit—1,000 pushups, strong muscles. It’s not easy. But with dedication and effort, you’ll not only elevate yourselves but you’ll also create a new generation of athletes who will serve your national teams with pride,” he said.
The coaching course, organised by the Tanzania Olympic Committee (TOC) and sponsored by the Olympic Solidarity (OS) programme under the International Olympic Committee (IOC), is being conducted by an official instructor from the World Taekwondo Federation.
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TOC President Gulam Rashid noted that this is only the second time such a course has been held in Tanzania under OS sponsorship.
“At TOC, we facilitate two international training courses annually. But with 19 national sports federations under our umbrella, this means each sport may wait nine years or more for another opportunity like this,” said Gulam.
“It would be wise for our sports federations to leverage their international counterparts to organise similar courses, instead of waiting for TOC to facilitate one.” The first Taekwondo coaching course was held in 2014 in Arusha.
This year’s programme brings together 30 coaches from across Tanzania, including Zanzibar (Unguja and Pemba), Arusha, Mwanza and Dar es Salaam.
President Gulam emphasised that the true impact of the training lies beyond earning a certificate.
He urged coaches to focus on nurturing grassroots talent: “Too often, we see certificates framed and forgotten. Coaches must understand that sports begin with the youth. Events like ANOCA Games, the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games all have youth categories. These are the platforms where future stars are born,” he said.
